One-way coupling device



Jan. 29, 1946. D. w. KELBEL ONE-WAY COUPLING nEvI'cE Filed ma :5, 1944 & QM v N v -HHI- RN Joni/d Z Patented Jan. 29, 1946 V ONE-WAY COUPLING DEVICE Donald W. Kelbel, Muncie, Ind., assignor to Borg- Warner Corporation, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application May 3, 1944, Serial No. 533,988 Claims. (01. 192-45) This invention relates to a one-way coupling assembly, and. it has particular reference to a device that is adapted to effect a one-way clutching or braking action between two relatively movable members such as the driving and driven shafts of motor vehicles. The improvements also are directed to means for controlling such one--' way clutch or brake.

It is one of the principal objects of this invention 'to simplify the construction of acneway coupling such as contemplated herein, and to improve the efiiciency, operation and dependability of such one-way coupling.

It is also a principal object of this invention to provide instrumentalities that will eliminate wear and the noise of the rollers that is usually due to the spinning of the rollers during the overrunning operation-of the coupling. This is accomplished by creating a drag through the medium of friction members to retract the rollers out of operative relation to the cams, thus eliminating the use of springs for controlling the oneway clutch or coupling.

Another object of the present invention is to effect'the free-wheeling or over-running operation of a one-way clutch or coupling by means of a frictional member that is adapted to maintain the rollers in inoperative positions during such over-running operation. In this connection, the frictional member is a positively operating ring or rings that operate to exert a drag upon the rollers thereby to maintain them in positions where they are ineffective upon the cams with which they are adapted to cooperate when coupling the driving member and the driven member together.

A further object hereof resides in providing one or more friction rings on the roller cage, and to position such ring or rings in a manner to bear against a race for the rollers on a portion of a shaft- Still another object embodies the provision of a suitable carrier on the roller cage, said carrier having means for seating one or more rings in frictional contact with a race member. Conceivably said carrier may be fabricated as an integral part of the cage or the cage itself my be of split ring construction. Furthermore, the friction ring structure of the assembly may be arranged to engage either the inner or outer 'race for the rollers.

Additional objects, aims and advantages of the invention contemplated herein will be apparent to persons skilled in the art after the construcand the like.

tion and operation of the one-way coupling device is understood from the within description.

It is preferred to accomplish the numerous objects of this invention and to practice the same in substantially the manner hereinafter fully described and .as more particularly pointed out in the appendedclaims, reference being made to the accompanying drawing that forms a part of this specification.

In the drawing:

Fig. l is an enlarged detailed section taken axially through an assembly that embodies the instrumentalities of this invention, theview being on the plane of line l-I on Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary elevation looking at the left side of the structure shown in Fig. 1.

The drawing is to be understood as being more or less of a schematic character for the purpose of disclosing a typical or preferred form of the improvements contemplated herein, and in this drawing like reference characters identify the same parts in the different views.

Referring particularly to Fig. 1, the assembly 1 comprises the drive member 5 and the driven member 6, preferably arranged in axial alinement in the manner of the driving and driven shafts of a motor vehicle, marine vessel, aircraft, The drive member or shaft 5 is provided with an enlargement or head I at its end that is surrounded by the cylindrical cupshaped end portion 8 of the driven member 6. The end portion 8 has a smooth cylindrical inner surface 9 that provides the outer race for a plurality of rollers 10 retained in spaced recesses l l in the annular roller cage l2.

The outer surface of the enlargement or head I of drive member 5 is provided with recesses or depressions [3 that are connected by short ramps M to the cam surfaces l5 having inclination outwardly toward the cylindrical race surface 9 of the cup-shaped end 8 of driven member 6. The rollers II] are interposed between the cylindrical race 9 and the recessed and cammed faces just mentioned. The control means for the rollers l0 comprise an annular carrier Is that is suitably secured to or made integrally with the cage II, and has one or more circumferential grooves I! in its outer face which confronts a cylindrical friction surface l8 alongside or a part of the race 9 on the interior of the cup-shaped end of the driven member'B. These grooves I! have radially yieldable split friction rings l9, preferably of rectangular section, seated in them in a manner to dispose the outer faces of said rings in frictional contact with the friction surface l8 alongside or wheeling of the assembly.

' drive ;member;

a part of the race 9. Said rings are prevented from rotating relative to carrier by pins 20 that are forced into the carrier lfipbetweenythe split 7 ends of each ring. Thus the friction between the outersurfaces of the rings and the surface I8 is effective to exert a drag on the carrier I6 and 7 respective members for simultaneous rotation. v

Upon a deceleration of speed of rotation, or upon reversed rotation, the frictional force exerted-by the rings [9 will cause a drag to be exertedupon the cage [2 that will shift the rollers on "the cams and maintain them in inoperative positions in the recesses l3 to permit the over-running or free- Thus a, frictional force is developed ers by a rigid connection to :control the position of-the rollers relative to the cams. The usual spring :for continuously urging the rollers upon the cams has been supplanted a frictional mechanism which prevents continued contact of the rollers with the :overrunning'member of the clutch duringsfree-wheling Faction.

' While this invention has been described .in detail in its present preferred form .or embodiment, it will be apparent to persons skilled in the art,

' after understanding the "construction and operatio'nsdf the improvements, that various changes and modifications nnay made therein without departing fromrthe zspiri-tor scope thereof. It .is aimed in ithe appended claims to :cover ;al1 such changes andmodifications. I

A one-way coupling device comprising a drive member; a driven member; and a clutch interposed :between' said' members, :said clutch comprising a plurality of rollers; :a cage for-said rollers; a cylindrical race onnne of sai'dzrnembers; a confronting second race ion :tne'rother member; a-epliirality of cam-surfaces on :said second 'race, each cam-surface having a roller-receiving depressionat one end; and radially yieldable frictionnneans eifective to. exert .adrag between said cage and-said driver member.

A Tone-way.v coupling device comprising a drive memberga driven member; and a clutch interposed between said members, said clutch comprising a plurality of rollers; a cage forsaid rollers; -a cylindrical race on said driven-memher; a "confronting race on the drive member; a plurality of cam-surfaces .011 said drive member 7 race,. each cam-surface having a, roller-receiving depression at one end; and radially yieldable friction means effective to exert adrag between said cage and said driven member. 1

3. A one-way coupling comprising a rotatable a rotatable. driven member adapted to be coupled thereto; and a clutch interposedrbetween said members, said clutch comprising a plurality of rollers; a cage for said roll ers; carrier means on said cage; a cylindrical race on one of said members; a confronting race on the other member; a plurality of cam-surfaces on the last-mentioned race, each cam-surface having a roller-receiving depression at one end; and a radially yieldable friction ring coacting with said carrier means and-with said driven member and effective to exert a drag therebetween upon a change of rotational speed between i said members, thereby to move said rollers out of I cooperation with said cam-surfaces and position i :said rollers .in said depressions. I V

by a ,ra- I dially expansible ring and transmitted tothe roll 7 4. A one-way coupling comprising a rotatable drive j'shaft," a rotatable driven shaft adapted to be coupled thereto; and a clutch interposed be-- tween said shafts, said clutch comprising a plumower rollers; a cage spacing said rollers; carrier means on said cage; a hollow cylindrical enlargement on said driven shaft overlying the adjacentrend of the drive shaft; .aninternal race in said enlargement; :a pon-frontiirl ra'ce on thegadjacent end ofrsa-id drive shaft; ;a ,pluraii-ty of camsurfa'ces on the last-namedrace adaptedto wedge said rollers against said internal race to couple said shafts, said cam surfaces each havings roller-receiving depression atone end; and a radially yieldable friction ring maintained against -'1:otational movement with respect to said cage, said friction ring enacting with said carrier means and with said driven shaft. and effective to exert-a drag therebetween upon a change of relative .rotation between said shafts thereby :to move-said rollers out of cooperation withsaid :camesurfa-ces and position said rollers in said depressions.

5. A one-way coupling comprising -a rotatable drive shaft; a rotatable i-driven shaft adapted to be coupled thereto; and ,a clutch interposedcbetween said shafts, said clutch comprisinga 1111111- rality of rollers, a cage spacing said rollers, carrier means on-said cage, a groove in said carrier means, a hollow cylindrical enlargement .on :said driven shaft overlying the adjacent lend-nor the drive shaft, an internal race in said enlargement and a cylindrical surface alongside saidr-ace, a confronting race on the acent :end of said drive shaft; a plurality of cam surfaces on the last named race adapted to wedge :sa-id rollers against said-internal race-to couple said shafts, said cam surf-aces each having a roller-receiving depression at one end-and a radially yieldable friction ring ,positioned'in the groove of thecarrier .means andcmaintained against rotational movement with respect to said cage, said-friction ring coacting with said carrier means and with said cylindrical surface of said driven shaft and effective, tov exert a drag therebetweennpon a change jof relative rotation between said Yshafts, therebyto move said rollers out .of cooperation with said cam surfaces .andto position said rollers in said depressions.

DONALD W. 

